#10 Best Down Jackets for Backpacking 2023

The Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody is perfectly acceptable for the great outdoors, city wear, and even travel. They appear and feel light, and you would never guess how warm they are. Because of this, the Nano Puff is ideal for packing into hiking jackets and bringing along on hikes or long backpacking trips, as it fits easily into a tiny stuff sack. The shell is made entirely of recycled materials, and the production process has received blue-sign certification for eco-friendly manufacturing methods.

If you’re on a budget, the Decathlon Trek 100 is the best option. It’s a fraction of the price of most down jackets, but the weight, materials, and features are comparable to the best. The jacket includes two zippered pockets and an adjustable hem. So, if you’re seeking one of the best hiking jackets on the market, this is a good option.

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer has long been a favorite of thru-hikers and a top contender in the ultralight puffy category. Thanks to an ultra-thin outer material and 1000-fill down insulation, the Ghost Whisperer UL is now even lighter. Although it isn’t the lightest down jacket available in absolute terms, we believe it is the lightest jacket that is still practiced in a wide range of three-season conditions.

It’s one of the lightweight down jackets designed for mild conditions that call for a high-performance, low-weight insulation layer. Western Mountaineering is a renowned sleeping bag manufacturer based in the United States. There’s also a full-length zipper with a down-filled draft tube that keeps warm air from leaking out through the zipper coils, according to the brand sleeping bag expertise. The Hooded Flash is a well-made shell that is designed to keep you warm while being simple to wear.

The Arc’teryx Thorium AR Hoody fills that need. The Thorium AR Hoody is one of the essential down jackets for usage in any urban or outdoor setting. It’s a real all-a-rounder that doesn’t always dazzle in a specific setting but is the ideal companion for a lifetime of action. The Thorium AR Hoody has performed well in the cold and wet, due to the combination of 750-fill-power goose down for warmth and Core loft synthetic insulation for wet-weather performance.

The Patagonia Women’s Down Sweater Hoody is durable and water-resistant. It’s made with 800-fill RDS-certified, traceable goose down, and a recycled, windproof 20D ripstop polyester shell that has a DWR treatment for moderate water resistance. The jacket combines multiple zippered hand pockets, elastic cuffs, and an adjustable hood and hem, as well as all the other features you’d expect from a puffy.

The Jack Wolfskin DNA Tundra Hoody is a lightweight down hoodie with twin STORMLOCK materials for complete weather protection. It ranks around the center of our best down jackets list, and it’s a strong contender for the title of Best All-Around Down Jacket. This jacket is filled with RDS-certified responsibly sourced natural duck down with a fill power of 700. It’s also PFC-free, which means it emits fewer greenhouse emissions, and it’s composed of recycled polyester. If you’re looking for a versatile jacket that will keep you warm, try this one!

A style that has seen incremental improvements year after year, the REI Down Jacket 650 2 is the retailer’s solid attempt at a well-made cheap down jacket. The quality is perfect for most urban hikers, day hikers, and car campers because it is lightweight and durable. Having a variety of hues to choose from at a good price would make this one a good option.

If you often go on adventures in wet weather but don’t want to give up the benefits of down, like its lightweight, long life, and easy packing, then the Patagonia Rab Microlight Alpine is the best choice for you. This hoodie has a “down proof” Pertex Quantum face fabric with a great DWR coating and recycled 700-fill power down that repels water.

The hood is a good size and has a brim to keep light rain from getting in your face. This jacket is not waterproof, but it is very resistant to water. It does this while still being comfortable, light, and easy to pack. We like the benefits of down and are glad that Rab made a down hoody that can stand up to water, which is its worst enemy.

The Patagonia Canada Goose Hybridge Lite Hoody is probably one of the nicest hiking jackets you’ll ever wear. Especially after looking at the Canada Goose website and seeing a bunch of way too handsome men with way too well-kept beards wearing the jackets on way too clean city streets. But if you’re a real man and your layering system is Jack Daniels and baby fat, you’ll still like the Hybridge Lite Hoody for its warmth, functionality, and street-smart looks. If you can afford this jacket, we promise that you won’t regret how it performs.